The Reeler's Diva of the Day: Lesley Ann Warren

I am always greatly pleased to hear about a diva in action, whether it is Jennifer Lopez fucking shit up in Mexico or Barbra Streisand going on the defensive with her Web site's too-brilliantly-bitchy-to-believe "truth alerts." But when an outsized ego takes over an independent film set in Lower Manhattan, it is like a godsend or something.

Of course, first-time director James Oakley probably did not enjoy having Lesley Ann Warren wreaking havoc before his Devil You Know ever shot a frame of film. Page Six reports Warren--whose recurring role on Desperate Housewives evidently places her squarely in "Do you know who I am? LESLEY! ANN! WARREN!" territory--threw fits about everything from her dressing room accommodations to the temperature of her water before Oakley shitcanned her. A P6 spy has the story:

"Lesley Ann also had an assistant director fired because she didn't like the tone of her voice," our source said. "She said, 'Either she goes, or I go.'

"We got almost nothing done on the first day. When she started up the same way on the second day, Oakley, to his credit, fired her," said our insider. "It was a ballsy move for a director making his first movie."

Oh, totally! But in a bit of serendipity proving everything happens for a reason, Oakley then nabbed Lena Olin to play the part of an aging actress battling jealousy over another woman and her younger lover. And just like that, the film is back up and running.

Meanwhile, Warren's manager attributed the falling out to good old "mutual creative differences." Like you did not see that coming.